Book Review: Backcountry Cocktails: Civilized Drinks for Wild Places
I am generally not one for an adventurous life in the great outdoors. When discussing the splendid pursuits of natural environments with someone evangelical about its numerous benefits, I often reach for Frank Zappa’s quote: “Outdoors for me is walking from the car to the ticket desk at the airport.” Folks will either sail right…
Review: Smokehead Original and High Voltage
If you’re of the opinion that Scotch is a tipple for the refined and genteel, then you haven’t been introduced to Smokehead. The heavy metal-themed brand, which encourages its drinkers to “smoke tradition,” is produced by Ian Macleod Distillers, makers of more polite single malts like Glengoyne, Tamdhu, and Rosebank. But unlike those dignified brands…
Review: Remy Martin Club
I picked up this bottling during my recent trip to Cognac, as it’s normally an Asia-only exclusive that I’d never even heard of before. (You can track it down stateside if you try, though.) A blend of 70% Grande Champagne and 30% Petite Champagne eaux de vie, aging extends for to up to 20 years.…
Book Review: The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres, and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts
Switching from 2022’s remarkable volume on doctors and distillation, Camper English sets his sites on writing the ultimate book about one of his passions: ice. Readers of his long-running site Alcademics know this to be one of his biggest areas of study, and The Ice Book takes some of the ideas found in some of…
Review: Sagamore Spirit Rye Bottled in Bond 5 Years Old
Maryland’s Sagamore Spirit is an exemplar of America’s craft whiskey scene. Having begun their whiskey production journey with sourced distillate, they’ve recently turned the corner and begun releasing products they distilled themselves. Sagamore Spirit’s new 5 year-old bottled in bond rye whiskey is a blend of two rye mashbills that showcases what the future will hold…
The Past, Present, and Future of Rose with Sainte Marguerite en Provence’s Olivier Fayard
Fifty years ago, most French enjoyed rosé during summer holidays. And the rest of the year, it was a dead category, forgotten for months until the beaches opened once more. At least, that’s according to Olivier Fayard, a second-generation winemaker at Sainte Marguerite en Provence. Fayard’s father started with three hectares to produce his own…
Review: Citadelle Extremes No. 4 “Sergent Pepper” Gin
Alexandre Ferrand sent me home from France with the fourth installment in Citadelle’s “Extremes” limited edition gin lineup, which was developed in 2021, with only 1000 bottles produced. Miraculously you can still find it for sale if you try. Citadelle Extrême N°4 Sergent Pepper is a spin on Citadelle which is built around two varieties…
Review: NV Mirabella Franciacorta Brut Rose DOCG
Pouring soft pink in the glass, this Franciacorta DOCG is made with 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Blanc. It spends a minimum of 30 months sur lie and rests in the bottle 3 additional months after disgorging. The ample time on the lees is immediately apparent on the nose, which opens with…